176 Cells; or, Evolution. 



And what did mankind conclude? Not that man 

 was descended from the ape. But that the ape was 

 an animal; and so was man. Only he was a rational 

 animal. It is in the rationality of the thing, as in 

 the rationality of the argument, that the difference 

 comes in between evolution and the common sense 

 of mankind. 



198. Here then we may pause, considering our- 

 selves happy in being dispensed by the obvious facts 

 of human life from sinking man into the mists of a 

 materialistic biology. He has a sphere of his own, 

 an intellectual atmosphere, to move about and 

 breathe in; and we have a right to respect it — his 

 rational psychology. In the steaming valley of 

 sense he is awhile; but his home is not here. He 

 is in it awhile on sufferance, by the law of his 

 organic nature; but he is not of it, — by the higher 

 law of his spiritual being and its destiny. Those 

 who like the steaming exhalation which greets the 

 sense in the valley of matter, and deadens the intel- 

 lectual life, are free to enjoy it. We may prefer to 

 have none of it. 



199. Yet I entertain a hope even for them; and 

 certainly for the outcome of all science of theirs, 

 however much it is misinterpreted in its earlier and 

 cruder efforts. If it is only fact which is reported, 

 and law which is rendered to the inquiring mind, 

 the very mists of a sensualistic science, which 

 obscure the vision and oppress the soul, can yet be 

 lifted into the broad light of God's open sky; 



